
ECONOMIC RECOVERY THROUGH
PORT INVESTMENT
QUONSET DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDING PROPOSAL #1
Page 8
existing Pier 2 at the Port, at a cost of $83.1 million, funded entirely by General Obligation Bonds,
Rhode Island Capital Plan funding and Agency expenditures. Pier 2, being a land mass pier rather
than a pile-supported pier, is the logical choice for o-shore wind staging and other uses, and is
being constructed with the necessary characteristics to handle the heavy loads of o-shore wind
components. However, the berths and laydown area at Pier 2 are heavily used by the Port’s existing
users, which are experiencing year-over-year success, and QDC is sensitive to disturbing this existing
activity and the high employment that it produces.
The Port of Davisville’s principal imported good is nished automobiles, which are shipped to the Port
from manufacturers in Germany, Mexico, and Japan, among others, and include Porsche, Bentley,
Audi, Volkswagen, Subaru, General Motors, Honda, Fiat, and Jeep vehicles. Overall, automobile
imports to the Port have grown signicantly. In 1996, only 35,084 were imported through the Port;
in 2019, 296,706 automobiles were imported through the Port, which was a new annual record (up
from 241,851 automobiles in 2018). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 import numbers were
reduced from the previous year, but have begun to rebound in 2021 supported, in part, by a new
contract to import Nissans from Mexico.
Given the year-over-year success of the nished automobile import and processing business, it is
imperative that plans for accommodating o-shore wind uses do not cause negative impacts to
these businesses. To be able to utilize Pier 2 for o-shore wind without disturbing the growing
business activities of the Port’s current users, additional berthing space and cargo laydown areas
are necessary. Use of Pier 2 for o-shore wind activity will require reallocation of the existing users
within the Port area and better use of the limited land close to the Pier. Therefore, the Port Master
Plan also calls for reconguration of the main access ways through the Port and a new Port security
gate, which will allow for more eective use of the limited space.
The current Port of Davisville Master Plan supports the continued success and growth of the nished
automobile import and processing industry while allowing the State to capitalize on the economic
benets to the region that will occur with the growth of the o-shore wind industry. Construction of
the Terminal 5 Pier will facilitate o-shore wind staging by providing a separate berthing area for the
existing nished automobile import and processing businesses and users. The new cargo laydown
areas will allow the transitioning the nished automobile import and processing business to the
areas near the Terminal 5 Pier, which will unlock Pier 2 for use by the o-shore wind industry. Also,
the improved access conguration and new security gate will increase eciencies for the existing
nished automobile industry.
Also in support of the Port of Davisville Master Plan, QDC is about to undertake reconstruction of the
outside edges of the pile-supported Pier 1 utilizing a combination of an $11.1 million Federal grant
funding from the U.S. Maritime Administration and the recently approved $20.0 million General
Obligation Bond. The continued use of Pier 1 is essential for maintaining the existing users at the
Port and the existing over 1,600 jobs supported by the Port. To further extend the useful life of Pier
1 additional funding is needed to reinforce the concrete deck of Pier 1 to allow its continued use as
a point of rst rest for cargo. It is critical that the existing Port users continue to have access to the
nearly 7 acres of laydown space contained within Pier 1.
The proposed construction activities will result in the immediate creation of 521 construction jobs.
Dedicating the full 30 acres of land mass and the two heavy lift berths of Pier 2 to the o-shore wind
industry will unlock the Port of Davisville for o-shore wind staging, bringing with it approximately